Method of forming sand from gravel



J. H. RODGERS.

METHOD OF FORMING SAND FROM GRAVEL. APPLICATION FILED .IULYZI, 1921.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

METHOD OF FORMING SAND FROM GRAVEL.

Application filed July 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I-I. RODGERS, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Methods ofForming Sand from Gravel, and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to a method of forming sand from'gravel, 'i. 6.,the rolled or water-worn material formed from fragments of rock underthe combined influence of atmospheric agencies and currents of water (GeMm" Dictionary).

The object of my invention is to provide a method to reduce gravel tothe form of sand by means of which the hard gravel which it has hithertobeen considered commercially impracticable to crush or reduce to sandmay by proper treatment be ren dered capable of being reduced to theform of sand in an economic and commercial manner.

To this end my invention comprises, generally stated, the method ofreducing gravel to the form of sand consisting of heating the gravel andthen crushing or grinding the gravel until reduced to the form of sand.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated an apparatus for carryingout my invention.

In the drawing the numeral 2 designates a suitable concrete or otherfoundation upon which is erected a furnace 3 with a heating chamber 4:;grate-bars 5; fuel-door 6 and ash-door 7.

Mounted above furnace 3 is the cylindrical chamber 8 with the flue 9leading therefrom. Within the chamber 8 is a cylindri cal receptacle 10which is carried by the central shaft 11 journaled in suitable bearings12. At one end of the shaft is the bevel-gear 13 meshing with thebevel-pinion 14 on the shaft 15 which may be driven by any suitablepower. In this manner rotary movement is imparted to the cylindricalreceptacle 10.

A chute 16 is provided for delivering the gravel to the receptacle 10.

The receptacle 10 is slightly inclined, and at its outer end is thehopper 17. Arranged in the hopper 17 is the water discharge pipe 18 bymeans of which cold water is discharged into the hopper.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1921.

Serial No. 486,477.

Mounted in housings 19 are the pairs of rolls 20, 21 and 22. The upperpairs of rolls 20 and 21 are corrugated or roughened while the rollers22 are smooth faced.

Adjusting screws 23 are provided for varying the space between theseveral pairs of rollers.

The gravel contained within the receptacle 10 is heated up to a suitabletemperature, and as the receptacle 10 revolves the gravel works its waytoward the discharge end and is delivered into the hopper 17. Afterheating the gravel it is chilled and cooled by the water from thesupplypipe 18. The gravel then passes down, first, through the rolls 20reducing the gravel to a certain size, then the gravel asses through therolls 21 which reduce 1t still further, whereupon it finally passesthrough the rolls 22 which reduce it to the form of sand. If desired thegravel may be reduced to powdered form, or any degree of fineness.

The heating of the gravel in the above manner renders the same morefrangible, and makes it more easily crushed sothat the strain and wearon the rolls is greatly relieved, and the gravel can be reduced in aneconomic and commercial way into the form of sand.

While I prefer to chill the gravel by subj ecting it to a cooling liquidas water, before passing it through the rolls yet I do not wish to limitmy invention to this chilling or cooling as this step may be omitted andthia1 heated gravel delivered directly to the r0 s.

In the appended claims the operations of heating the gravel and crushingthe avel are to be understood as being limlted as to the intensity ofthe heat and the degree of crushing to the production of a final productof the consistency of sand, as distinguished from the heat treatment ofore for the production of fine impalpable powders, and liberation of theminerals contained therein.

By my invention I make available for commercial use in the form of sand,reat deposits of gravel as above defined bo h in river beds and inbanks, thereby greatly increasing the production of sand for all kindsof commercial uses.

What I claim is:

1. A method of forming sand from gravel as above defined consisting inheating the grz vel, and then subjecting it to a crushing gravel,chilling same by Water, and then subjecting said graveltoqa, crushingaction. 10 lntestlm'onywhereof, I",'the said JOSEPH H. "Ronenns, havehereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH H. RODGERS. Witnesses:

JOHN F. WILL,

